Sixth Annual HOGSPY Award Finalists Announced

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – From memorable plays and record-setting academic achievements to striving for championships and excellence in the classroom, the sixth annual HOGSPY Awards will celebrate the best-of-the-best among Razorback student-athletes, Spirit Squad, marching band and staff during the past year.

The HOGSPY Awards recognizes the best in athletics, academics, leadership and service learning and will be hosted by University of Arkansas Alumnus and ABC News Anchor T.J. Holmes. Individual awards include male and female recipients in the categories of student-athlete of the year, rookie of the year and scholar-athlete of the year. Coach of the Year honors will also be bestowed on the year’s most outstanding coach in both men’s and women’s sports.

Team awards will recognize the academic teams of the year, the team performances of the year, the Hog Tough performances of the year and the top athletic teams of the year. There will be exciting additions to this year’s show, including a brand new award design, which will be revealed on the day of the show and three new awards – Standing Ovation, Service Over Self, and Top Play of the Year.

HOGSPY Award nominations are submitted by student-athletes, the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, coaches and staff. Winners are determined by a vote of selected groups for each award.

Fans and members of the University of Arkansas community are invited to join their favorite University of Arkansas student-athletes and coaches in this celebration on Wednesday, May 3, 2017 at Bud Walton Arena. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with the formal program set to begin at 7:30 p.m.

General admission tickets for the HOGSPY Awards are available for $5 and are now available online through the Razorback Ticket Center. Faculty and students will receive free general admission tickets, with a valid University ID at the door.

In addition, a limited number of tickets for the HOGSPY Awards VIP Experience are available online for $20. This VIP Experience will include access to the pre-show red carpet experience, dinner, and floor seating.

This year’s finalists include:

Heart of the Hog
• Manuale Watkins (M. Basketball)
• Leigha Brown (W. Track & Field)
• Amanda Wellick (Gymnastics)
• Sasha Shkorupeieva (W. Tennis)

Male Rookie of the Year
• Devwah Whaley (Football)
• Adrio Bailey (M. Basketball)
• Dominic Fletcher (Baseball)

Female Rookie of the Year
• Taylor Werner (W. Cross Country and Track)
• Ayumi Macias (Swimming & Diving)
• Stefani Doyle (Soccer)

Hog Tough Award
• Soccer
• Softball
• Men’s Basketball
• Men’s Track & Field

Comeback Student-Athlete
• Frank Ragnow (Football)
• Qyara Winston (Soccer)
• Giulia Pairone (W. Tennis)
• Devin Cosper (W. Basketball)

Top Graduating Senior
• Katherine Moore (Soccer)

Female Academic Team of the Year
• Cross Country
• Swimming & Diving
• Softball

Male Academic Team of the Year
• Golf
• Tennis
• Cross Country

Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year
• Tori Weeks (Track & Field)
• Jessi Hartzler (Soccer)
• Chelsea Tatlow (Swimming & Diving)

Male Scholar – Athlete of the Year
• Brooks Ellis (Football)
• Kenzo Cotton (Track & Field)
• Moses Kingsley (Basketball)

Service Over Self
• Bette Poblete (Soccer)

Team Lee Spencer Cup Team
• Men’s Golf
• Women’s CC/Track
• Soccer
• Gymnastics
• Men’s CC/Track

Lee Spencer Individual
• Heather Elswick (Gymnastics)
• Eric Janise (M. Track & Field)
• Parker Pocklington (Softball)
• Sasha Shkorupeieva (W. Tennis)

Standing Ovation Award
• John Winn (M. Track & Field)
• Mia Bargiacchi (Gymnastics)
• Adrien Wohlschlaeger (Volleyball)
• Hannah Neece (Soccer)

Top Play of the Year
• MBB vs. Seton Hall
• MTRK – Clive Pullen
• WTRK – 2016 Outdoor Championships
• FB – Austin Allen v. TCU
• Men’s Golf – Charles Kim at the Suntrust Invitational
• Soccer – Cameron Carter save vs. Duke

Team Performance of the Year
• Soccer
• Men’s Track
• Women’s Track
• Football

Female Team Coach of the Year
• Colby Hale (Soccer)
• Michael Hegarty (Tennis)
• Lance Harter (CC/Track & Field)

Male Team Coach of the Year
• Mike Anderson (Basketball)
• Chris Bucknam (CC/Track & Field)
• Brad McMakin (Golf)

Female Student-Athlete of the Year
• Lexi Weeks (Track & Field)
• Claire Kelly (Soccer)
• Nicole Schroeder (Softball)

Male Student-Athlete of the Year
• Clive Pullen (Track & Field)
• Rawleigh Williams (Football)
• Mike Redlicki (Tennis)

Female Team of the Year
• Cross Country, Track & Field
• Tennis
• Soccer

Male Team of the Year
• Basketball
• Cross Country, Track & Field
• Tennis

Outstanding Band Member
• Aaron Carson

Outstanding Spirit Squad
• Taylor Farr

For more information regarding Razorback Athletics, please visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com.